Potato digger



Nov. 3, 193 1. s. z. KOCHANOWSKI POTATO DIGG'ER Filed Nov. 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 -Kiflnuen/iar 5.Z .KO Clo an owslc (L, I

NOWSKI Nov. 3,' 1931.

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r Patented News, 1931 UNIT-Eb L TA s'rANIs'L w zYGMUNr KocHANowsxI; or wAns w, POLAND POTATO moons;

H The present invention relates to a potato- ;digging machine in which a side-hill plough share co-operates with a potato-stalkremoving device. 7 .5 The object of; the invention is to improve the working of such machinesv in such a way thatthe potatoes are obtained as possible from stalk and earth. I The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein 1 I o Figures 1 and 2'show the actual digger in side elevation and in plan respectively.

The digger consists of a frame supported upon two large wheels2 and 3 and a small wheel 4. The wheel2 revolves about an arm 5, which is keyed onto an axle 6, while the'wheel 3 revolves about an arm 7, which .serves at-the same time as an axle and is 20 rotatably supported in a frame 1. Upon a cross beam 8' of the frame 1 is arranged a controlling mechanism, which is composed of a small frame 9 provided withnotches for the reception of a chain link 10, and of a shackle 11 embracing the small frame 9 and the cross beam 8. A screw 12 serves for exerting a suitable pressure upon the cross beam 8 and the shackle'll. 1 To a longitudi-' nal beam 13- on'an angle iron 14L is secured a claw 15 suspended by means of a hook 16 and a chain 17 from the frame 1. Upon the axle 6 is keyed a lever 18, the roller 19 of which engages in'a slot in a lever 20 keyed to the axle 7 Upon the axle 7 is arranged a lever 21, which is rigidly connected with the axle 7 by means of a rod 22. A H handle :23 with an automatic catch 24 is secured to the lever 21.. The catch can drop into suitable recesses in a guide bar riveted to the frame 1. A plough share 26 is rigidly connected with the frame 1 by means of two fiat iron members 27 and 28. In the rear portion of the frame 1 is arranged a second plough share, which consists of a sheet-metal share'29, and the active surface of which is constructed of bars 30 forming an apertured mold board, This ploughshare can be adjusted inheight, and is providedfor this purpose with three clamps, having notches 31, 32 and 33. The wheel'4 revolves about as freesake of clearness.

Vactly horizontally.

Application filed November 12, 1928, Serial a ssa'ej'ana in'rdlana July 26, 1928.

an" axle supported in a stationary position in 'the'-'fi'ame '1,and upon the axle 34 is ar rangedabent lever 35, which is rigidly connected with the axle by means of a connect? ing piece 36. With the-axle34c is associated a plough shoe orpressure shoe 37 the lower edge'gof which remains permanently in the same'horizontal plane as the" lower edge of the wheel 4; A link mechanism-'forvthis pur pose isomitted from the drawings for the ing manner The potato digger operates in the; follow The controlling mechanism enables horses 'to'be harnessed to it." I The small frame 9 is with the frame 1, whichhasthe result that the adjusting of; the action of the ploughfis 7? effected b '1' lowerin orraisin the frame ,and at the same time theplough) For this purpose the'handle '23 of the lever 21 has to be pressed, and the'catch 24 has to be caused to leave the recess in the guiding bar. 'By 89 displacing the lever the axle 7 is positively rotated, as the rod 22 forms a connecting member between the lever 21 and the axle 7 Consequently theaxle 7 revolves in the frame and pulls the lever 20, in the curved guide of $5 which the roller-19 slides. The guide is so shaped that when rotating it produces the same'angles of rotation of the axles 7 and 6, whereby'the frame is lowered and raised ex- The lever 35 serves for 90 lowering or raising the wheel 4',-which dur- 'in-gthe field labour, rolls upon the strip of 'earthturned over and during transport in the street formsthe third point of support of the digger.

v as The digging operation proceeds in the following manner: U e

The stalk-displacing claw 15 turns the stalks to the left and presses them-down.

front plough share 26 turns the po- I 9 I tato bank or hill over to the right, with dirt, V potatoes, stalks and all. The plough shoe or pressure shoe 37 slides on to the stalks and holds them down. Then the rear ploughshare 29 takes up the overturned potatoes and all or part of the overturned dirt, accord- 7 ing to its depth, of penetration, wwhichis determined by adjusting "the clamps with notches 31, 32 and 33, and turns theisaid po.-. tatoes and dirt over to'the'left on tothe aper; tured mold STANISLAW board or'grid'30 whilethe-plough V shoe or pressure shoe 37' and the'wheel fare still holding the ends of the stalks.

then the dirt sifts and falls out through the grid30, and the potatoes fall back on to the groundof'f the rear end ofthegrid'30, and

, may be gathered up by'hand or by'ithemachine.

-Thus the potatoes are pulled off from the stalks, and

The' advantages of the. above construction are as follows :LV (1) Reliability of operation, occasioned by the omission of delicate or complicatedmechanisms. of anylkindwhich would be'likelyto fail under the severe condition f. fi ld labour.

f (2) Simplicity-of operation;

(3) Cheapness of the construction; which consists-exclusively of ordinary commercial iron sections; 1 Lightnessof quent saving" of driving power.' What I claimis "construction and conse- V 1. A' .potato digging' machine, comprising a digging plough, a'plough shareprovided on the digging plough and adapted to dig out potatoes by turning over a strip jof'earth towards the right, a second plough shareprovided' on the digging plough somewhat 'behind and to the right of the cfirst menitioned plough share andata somewhat higher level,

' and adapted to turnover a strip ofear th to-;

wards thev left-,a claw arranged in front of thefirst-mentioned plough share and adapt- 1 ed to push potato I stalksaside, a plough-shoe adaptedtohold'fastthe stalks pushed aside 7 [by the claw, the-second plough share'loeing also adapted totear off the potatoes from the stalks -held fast'by'the plough shoe.

21A potato digger, comprising a'plough share adapted to turna potatobank over, a

stalk-displacingf'claw arranged in front of the said plough share and adapted to deflect "the'potato stalks toward that side ofthe digger on! which the unharvested potato I plants are located while the said plough share 1 is turning the potato bank over, a second fplough share somewhat behindandto one Y sideof the first-mentioned plough share, the said'second pl'ough share being adapted to take-thepot'ato bank up again and turn it .towards the furrow producedfby the front plough share, an apertured mold board, at-

I tazched t'o'the second plough share, and a pressure shoaarraiiged laterally of the rear ZYGMUNT xocimuowsm. 

